Effective negotiation skills are critical in the workplace

Negotiation is not limited to car and home buying. Negotiation is a necessary skill to succeed not only in the corporate world but in every aspect of our lives. Everything is negotiable, and we negotiate everyday - whether it's with our co-workers, boss, family, spouse, children, or friends. Negotiation is simply working out a solution that results in a win-win solution for all parties involved.

Following are a few valuable tips for enhancing your negotiation skills:

1- Women value relationships. This is not necessarily a bad thing, but it tends to hurt women as they attempt to negotiate. Women like to protect the relationships they have, so many make the mistake of failing to negotiate with the proper desire and drive because they don't want to harm the relationship with the individual(s) on the other side of the table. Negotiating is a valuable business tool that all business relationships use at one time or another. If women can separate the business side from the relationship side, they would be much more effective in getting what they want. Developing relationships is a valuable strength in the world of negotiating, and this can be a skill women could leverage and use to their advantage.

2- Don't be afraid to say no. Sometimes it's necessary to say no to get what you want. You must be willing to walk away from the bargaining table if the individual seems to be aggressively dominating the arrangement. Stand your ground, and be assertive. Unless you stand for something, you will fall for anything. And you will gain valuable respect for it in the end.

3- Stay one step ahead and always gather information about your opponents. Understand their style and their objective before the meeting takes place. This gives you an opportunity to brainstorm ways and methods of approaching the situation in a manner that will ease the tension that negotiations can sometime fall into. You're already ahead of the game. Your opponent will be impressed by your pro-active work, and it could make the difference in a positive outcome for you.

4- Make a list of what you want from the negotiations, and also what you have to offer. Prepare your presentation and include your strengths and what you bring to the bargaining table. Design your delivery in a manner in which it will be difficult for your opponent to say no. In other words, make it a no-brainer for your opponent to jump on your offer.

5- Always always always remain cool! Never allow emotions to creek into the negotiation discussions. Maintain your cool and professionalism at all times. If you feel you need to take a break and re-convene at a later date, ask for it.

6- By all means, don't take it personally if you don't get everything you want. Remember, you're building a lasting relationship with the individual, and next time, you may get more than what you ask for. So be willing to accept a bit less for the opportunity to gain a valuable business colleague who may be the key for offering valuable referrals, business deals, and other negotiating opportunities in the future.

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Cathy Holloway Hill is Founder of C. Holloway Hill Enterprises, a personal and professional development company.With over 25 years of corporate experience with both IBM and Brown-Forman Corporation, she walked away from a successful technology career to focus on her life's purpose of advancing the lives of others. Her success in the male-dominated technology industry affords her the credibility to speak on topics related to career and life success. She is an International Advisory Board Member of PWN, NAWBO, and is a National Premier Coach with eWomenNetwork.Cathy is a column writer for Business First of Louisville and has been featured in Black Enterprises Magazine. She graduated from Bellarmine University, Louisville, with a B.S. in Computer Science. Cathy hosts a talk radio show and has conducted interviews with celebrities such as Zig Ziglar, Barbara Corcoran, and First Lady, Michelle Obama.